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Three EV Questions Answered by an EV Battery Specialist

A few years back, Dirk Spiers sat as a panelist at an Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA) conference where he discussed the disconnect between electric vehicles and the dealership industry. Four years later, Spiers believes the disconnect still exists, and hasn’t been mended in the slightest.

“I’m shocked and disappointed,” says Spiers, CEO of Spiers New Technologies, a full-service provider for battery life management, who works directly with OEMs that dabble in the electric vehicle industry. When an electric vehicle’s battery malfunctions or is ready to be replaced, the company receives orders directly from the OEM.

“Sometimes I’ll go to a dealership for fun and they’ll always lie about the range of the electric vehicle and how it performs,” he says.

According to an “Electric Vehicle (EV) Sales Experience and Best Practice Study” put on by Ipsos RDA, electric vehicles do not take center stage at the dealership. Spiers can attest to the study as he frequently visits dealerships to understand how knowledgeable staff members are of electric vehicles.

Although some dealerships have taken the initiative of moving toward electric vehicles, Spiers answers three recurring questions he’s seen rise among dealerships regarding electric vehicles.

“Why should I get involved with electric vehicles when they’re never going to happen?”

Insight: Electric vehicles are here to stay.

It’s no longer a matter of if, but when, with electric vehicles. According to analysts at Morgan Stanley, electric vehicle sales are “expected to surpass those of traditional vehicles by 2038, while the global fleet of EVs is expected to surpass one billion by 2047.”

“You cannot stop the future,” Spiers says. “It’s going to happen one way or another.”

For him, staying away from electric vehicles is similar to renting VCR tapes at the local Blockbuster store—you either adapt to change or lose out altogether.

“You used to go to the Blockbuster to rent a movie for the night and now it’s Netflix,” Spiers says. “You cannot stop progress, so the choice you have to make is [either] you embrace progress and you prosper, or if you try to resist, you will be steamrolled.”

By embracing electric vehicles, the dealership can position itself ahead of the curve and offer a cutting-edge product.

“Where do I look to become more educated on electric vehicles?

Insight: Look to the OEM if you’re interested in bringing electric vehicles aboard.

With today’s available resources, it’s just a matter of getting your hands on the right material to better understand what electric vehicles offer. According to Spiers, dealerships can become more educated about electric vehicles through OEMs.

“The first bunch of information [dealerships] should come from the OEM,” Spiers says.

In addition, Spiers recommends doing additional research to become more educated.

“Magazines like CHARGED [provide] a wealth of information on electric vehicles [and] specialize in electric vehicles,” Spiers says.

By gaining knowledge in the industry, it can help better prepare the dealership for ways to divvy out new roles in the business.

“How do I get service back if customers are not coming in for routine maintenance?”

Insight: While electric vehicles require far less maintenance, there are other opportunities with electric vehicles from which a service department can profit.

Electric vehicles are unique in the sense that they require less maintenance than what is typically required for vehicles. While electric vehicles do not require typical service work such as oil changes, they do require other service opportunities.

“Everything made from humans breaks down time to time,” Spiers says. “The majority of the OEMs use our services.”

He works directly with OEMs once a customer needs a battery replacement. In addition to replacing a battery, Spiers says other markets such as charging stations and solar can help build revenue taken from traditional maintenance repairs.

In order to keep an electric vehicle running, the car must have an adequate charge. According to Spiers, dealerships can invest in implementing a charging station in order to gain more customers.

“Charging stations would simplify your business,” Spiers says. “Look at what Tesla is doing.”

According to the Tesla website, vehicle owners have access to “global charging networks,” where they can locate nearby charging stations and pay a fee to use. With 1,386 Supercharger Stations worldwide, customers can drop by as often as needed.

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Celebrating Excellence: Member Awards at Fueling Connections

Celebrating Excellence: Member Awards at Fueling Connections

We are thrilled to announce that the Automotive Service and Tire Alliance will be recognizing excellence within our community by presenting member awards at our upcoming event, Fueling Connections. These awards are a testament to the dedication and hard work of our members, who continuously strive for greatness in their businesses. We are proud to honor those who have demonstrated exceptional commitment and innovation in the automotive service and tire industry.

Fueling Connections is a two-day event tailored for owners of independent automotive service and tire repair shops. It offers a unique opportunity to network with industry peers, enjoy delicious meals, and participate in classes led by The Institute of Automotive Business Excellence on leadership and management.

Don’t miss this chance to connect with fellow shop owners, gain valuable insights, and celebrate the achievements of our members. Register now to secure your spot at Fueling Connections, and join us in celebrating our automotive industry peers.

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GTCC Aims to Address Automotive Technician Shortage

GTCC Aims to Address Automotive Technician Shortage

GREENSBORO, N.C. — There is a nationwide shortage of automotive technicians, which is causing repair times to be longer.

What You Need To Know
The number of graduates completing programs in the automotive sector has dropped 20% since 2020
Most people working in the automotive industry are over the age of 55
Derek Morehead is a first-year student at Guilford Technical Community College
Derek Morehead’s high school automotive class helped determine his future in the automotive industry. He says he took it for fun then shortly fell in love with it.

But these automotive classes aren’t widely available.

“There’s not as many automotive programs and high schools as there used to be. However, from what I’m seeing and hearing is that’s going to make a comeback not only in the automotive sector, but also other aspects of career and technical education like carpentry, electronics and things like that, which is fantastic,” said Guilford Technical Community College Department Chair Jeff Faircloth.

The number of graduates completing programs in the automotive sector has dropped 20% since 2020, according to TechForce Foundation, a nonprofit that guides students into careers as professional technicians.

Now, a first-year student at Guilford Tech, Morehead gets to turn his passion into a career.

“Being able to see what I’m learning actually does matter when I go to work,”
Morehead said. “It definitely makes me more engaged in class acts and more questions.”

Working part-time at Mercedes helps him apply what he’s learned in class.

“It’s nice having to go to school and work at the same time. So like whenever I’m at work, if I don’t understand something, I always can come here and like get a deeper explanation of it than what I could get at work,” Morehead said.

Faircloth added the goal of the automotive program at GTCC is to get students jobs in the industry and help the local economy, as well as help the students be successful.

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